THE BENJAMITE RAVENOUS WOLF

Jesus says we should beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are actually ravenous wolves (Matthew 7:15). This echoes Jacob’s prophecy: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil” (Genesis 49:27).

Paul is a Benjamite (Romans 11:1). He devours the prey in the morning by killing Christians (Acts 7:58-59). He divides the spoil at night by being responsible for the denominational divisions of Christianity. Indeed, he maintains: “There must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized” (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Paul is a divider

Paul lied that the Lord sent Peter to Jews and him to Gentiles when there was no such division of labour (Matthew 28:18-20). Indeed, it was Peter that God used to open the door of faith to Gentiles through Cornelius (Acts 15:7-9). Paul initially preached to Jews; but they rejected a messiah allegedly sacrificed for sins (1 Corinthians 1:23). He only switched to Gentiles because Jews rejected him (Acts 13:45-46; 18:5-6).

Paul used the lie of a division of labour to divide Jewish Christians from Gentile Christians. He then divided even the Gentiles between themselves because contradictory doctrinal views abound in his epistles as he sought to be “all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:22). This makes it difficult to pin Paul down to any position. He is hypocritically on all sides of all arguments.

Bundle of contradictions

Is baptism necessary for salvation? Paul says it is not: “Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17). Nevertheless, Paul baptised so many people (Acts 16:14-15/33; Acts 19:1-5). Moreover, he contradicts himself by teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation: “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27).

Does a believer need to be circumcised? Paul says “No:” “I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ” (Galatians 5:3-4). But then the same Paul forced Timothy to be circumcised: “He took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region” (Acts 16:3).

Is it wrong to eat meat offered to idols? Paul says it is wrong: “You cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons” (1 Corinthians 10:21). And then he says it is not: “Food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse” (1 Corinthians 8:8).

Is the moral law necessary for salvation? Absolutely, says Paul: “Neither fornicators, nor adulterers will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). However, he then contradicts this by making these sins permissible: “All things are lawful unto me” (1 Corinthians 6:12). How can all things be lawful when Paul says: “I myself serve the law of God” (Romans 7:25).

Double-mindedness

Are we justified by the law or not? Paul says we are not: “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified (Romans 3:20). Then he says we are: “The doers of the law will be justified” (Romans 2:13).

Does repentance from sin lead to salvation? Paul says it does not: “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Romans 11:29). Then he says it does: “Godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Are the commandments of God any good? Paul says they are not: “The commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death” (Romans 7:10). Then he makes a volte-face and says the same “deadly” commandments are “holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12).

Are sacrifices to continue after the death of Jesus? Paul says “No;” on the grounds that: “Christ is the end of the law” (Romans 10:4). But then, at the instance of James, he agreed to perform Nazarite rites according to the law which included the sacrifice of a ram (Acts 21:18-24; Numbers 6:13-18).

Paul says in one breath: the law brings God’s wrath and curses (Romans 4:15; Galatians 3:10). Then he says in another: the law is “holy,” “spiritual” and “good” (Romans 7:12-16). He says: “We are discharged from the law, dead to that which held us captive (Romans 7:6). Then he says Christians should “uphold the law” (Romans 3:31).

With Jesus, there was one shepherd, one faith and one baptism. Thanks to Paul, there are now thousands of denominations; each with its own shepherd and doctrine. Paul is the author of this confusion. He is the very embodiment of James’ verdict: “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8).